Die and die holder



. Sept; 1936- I R. L. GREENLEAF ET AL 2,053,323

DIE AND DIE HOLDER Filed Oct. 14, 1935 3- Sheets-Sheet 1 I N am Sept. 8, 1936.

R. LRGREENLEAF ET AL DIE AND DIE HOLDER Filed Oct. 14, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ame/who'd Same 8, 135.

R. L... GREENLEAF r AL DIE AND DIE HCLDEB Filed Oct. 14, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 's I Patented Sept. 8, 1936 DIE AND DIE HOLDER Rupert L. Greenleaf and William E. Dougherty, Haverhill, Mass., assignors to Haverhill Die Company, Haverhill, Mass, a firm composed of Parker Smith, Saco, Maine, and Rupert L. Greenleaf, Charles Dougherty, and William Everett Dougherty, all of Haverhill, Mass.

Application October 14, 1935, Serial No. 44,994

6 Claims. (01.101-298) This invention relates to an improved die holder and die of the type employed for marking dies on Vamps, quarters, foxings, tongues, and other portions of shoes where stitching or stripg' ping is used. At the present time the dies and die holders in use require a separate mounting for each die and this is not only expensive but also slows up work of the operator as a die and its holder must be removed from the press when- '-'ever it is necessary to remove a die and substitute another.

Therefore, one object of the invention is to provide an improved die holder and die of such construction that the die holder may be firmly secured to the carrier or carriage of the press and a die detachably applied to the holder, the holder and die being of such construction that while the die will be firmly held in place when applied to the holder, it may be very easily removed and another substituted in its place.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the holder that either a unitary die oran adjustable die may be applied to the holder and the same means employed for securing either the unitary die in the holder or the adjustable die.

Another object of the invention is to provide the holder with means for retaining a section of an adjustable die in a stationary position in the holder, the adjustable section of the die being so formed that it may be shifted toward or away from the stationary section and then secured in a set position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved die holder and dies which are formed entirely of metal and will be very strong and durable and may be manufactured at a low cost.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view showing the improved die holder mounted in a press of a conventional construction.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the improved -.die holder with a unitary die applied thereto.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the die holder with a die mounted therein.

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the die holder with an adjustable die mounted therein.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 'I--'I of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the securing strip employed for holding the stationary section of the adjustable die in the holder.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view of the holder with an adjustable die mounted therein.

The press with which the improved die holder is used includes a base I formed of metal and having one end portion provided with upstanding side flanges 2 to which the arms 3 of a yoke 4 are pivotally mounted by bolts 5 serving as pivot pins and extending through bearings 6 and 1 carried by the flanges 2 and ends of the arms 3 of the yoke. The side flanges are formed 5" with other bearings 8 spaced from opposite sides of the bearings 6 and to these bearings are pivotally mounted parallel links 9, the other ends of which are pivoted to cross heads II! of a frame or carriage II to which the improved die holder is to be applied in place of a die holder of a conventional construction. The cross heads of the frame are pivotally suspended from the yoke by bolts I 0 which pass through bearings I0 formed upon arms of the yoke. The frame or carriage II has portions cut out, as shown at I2, to reduce its weight and is strengthened by longitudi-' nally extending ribs or flanges I3 and intermediate the length of the frame a rib I4 extends transversely of the frame between the flanges I3. A metal plate I5 is disposed against the under face of the frame II where it is firmly secured by rivets I6 and this plate is formed near its ends with openings I! located intermediate its width and the plate is also formed with a center opening registering with an opening formed through the rib I4. By having the press constructed as set forth above, a die holder may be detachably secured to the carriage, and, by grasping the handle I8, the yoke may be swung about its pivotal mounting from the position shown in Figure 1 in which the die will rest upon an ink pad carried by the base I and move longitudinally of the base and then downwardly onto a leather blank resting upon the otherend portion of the base and the leather blank will be marked by the die; As the base, yoke and carriage of the press are of a conventional construction, the end portion of the base upon which the leather blank rests has been broken away in Figure 1.

Die holders now in use consist of a die tacked or otherwise secured upon a wooden block carrying a threaded stem at its center to engage through the opening of the rib I4 and also carrying pins which pass through the openings I I to hold the block in its proper position when a securing nut is applied to the threaded stem and tightened. As the die is permanently attached to the block carrying the same, it is necessary to unscrew the nut and remove the die and block when it is desired to substitute a new diein place of one mounted upon the frame. This causes loss of time and also makes it necessary to provide each die with a block having a threaded stem and pins and adds to the cost of equipment.

The improved die holder, which is to be applied to the carriage in place of a die holder of a conventional construction, consists'cf aframe having a back plate is: to which an abutment strip 20 is secured against the underface of its rear marginal edge portion and along its side edge portions undercut strips 2| are secured to its underface. The undercutstrips 2 i form tracks or retainers whereby the die may be slid into and out of the frame and the abutment strip limits rearward movement of the die when slid into the frame. Against the rear face of the backing plate I9 is secured a metal block 22 having at its center a threaded stem 23 for engaging through the opening formed in the rib M of the carriage H and this block also carries pins 24 disposed in such relation to the stem 23 that they will engage through the openings ll of the plate l5 It will thus be seen that the frame of -the improved die holder may be disposed under "the carriage i with the pins 24 engaging through the openings l7 and the stem 23 passing through the opening of the rib l4 and when the wing nut 25 is screwed upon the stem the die holderwill .be firmly but detachably secured and prevented from moving out of its proper position.

The die may be formed as a unitary structure, as shown in Figures 2 through 5 inclusive, or adjustable and consist of companion sections, as shown in Figure 6. The unitary die has a main plate 26 which is rectangular in shape and of the proper dimensions tofit the die holder and be slid into and out of engagement therewith with the flanges 21 of the side strips 2| overlapping its side edge portions when slid into the dieholder.

The strip 2! limitsrearward movement of the of the die holder. By forming an opening 28 in ries markers which are to make contact with plate 26 when slid into thedieholder and at its forward end the plate is formed with a'tongue 21 constituting a hand hole by meansof which the plate may be grasped when slid into or out the tongue, the die may be engaged with a nail or hook when not in use. An auxiliary plate 29 is riveted or otherwise secured against the outer or underface of the main plate and this plate carthe ink pad carried by the base of the press when the carriage is in the position shown'in Figure l and form marks upon the leather when the carriage is swung from the position shown in Figure l to the other end of the base. It will, of course, be understood that the markers may be arranged upon the plate 29, as shown in Figure 2, or be of any other desired configuration according to the design which it is desired to provide upon the leather blank.

In order to secure the die in the die holder,

there has been provided a latch 3| consisting of a strip of resilient metal which extends longitudinally of the forward edge portion of the die engages through an opening 35 formed in thepressure to the free end portion of the actuating element the resilient strip may be flexed away from the'die holder to move the pin 33 outwardly and thus release the die so that it may be grasped by the tongue 2'! and drawn outwardly. When applying the die, it is merely necessary to apply pressure to withdraw the pin a sufiicient length of time to permit the die to be engaged under the fianges'of the strips 2| and the latch can then be released and when the die has been thrust inwardly a sumcient distance to bring its rear edge into engagement with the abutment strips 20 and move the opening 35 into registry with the opening 34, the pin of the latch will move through the opening 35 and secure the die in the holder.

The adjustable die shown applied to the die holder in Figure 6 consists of companion sections and has a main plate 38 to which is riveted or otherwise secured an auxiliary plate 39 carrying markers 40 and 4| corresponding to the markers 30. After the auxiliary plate, or face plate as it may be termed, has been secured to the main plate 38, a slit of irregular contour is formed through the two plates from one side edge to the other of the main plate thus dividing the die to provide the companion sections 42 and 43, the section 43 being formed at its front edge with a tongue 44 corresponding to the tongue 21 and having an opening 45 by means of which it may be suspended from a nail or hook in a wall when not in use. It will be understood that when the adjustable die is not in use the two sections may be placed one upon the other. and secured by a rubber band or the like.

When the adjustable die is in use the section 42 is first slid into the holder until its rear edge engages the abutment strip 20 and when so disposed in the holder, openings 46 formed through this section will register with openings 41 formed through the backing plate I9 of the holder and a plate 48 carrying pins 49 is then disposed against the outer face of the die holder with the pins extending through the registering openings, as shown in Figures '7 and 8. A latch 50 formed from a strip of resilient metal and pivotally secured against the outer face of the plate l9 by a rivet 5| is then turned from the position indicated by dotted lines in Figure 5 to the position shown in full lines therein and the free end portion of the latch will engage across the intermediate portion of the metal strip 48 and hold the strip in place with the pins extending through the openings 46 and 41. Therefore, the section 42 of the die will be securely held in the holder and prevented from accidentally moving out of its proper position. The forward section 43 of the die is formed with a series of openings 52 which are alined at right angles to the forward edge of the .die and so located that when this section of the die is slid into the die holder, the pin 33 carried by the resilient latch strip 3| may be engaged through a selected one of these openings. It will thus be seen that the section 43 of the adjustable die may be secured in the holder with its inner edge in contact with the inner edge of the section 42 or it may be shifted away from the stationary section 42 and secured as shown in Figure 6 with its inner edge in predetermined spaced relation to the inner edge of the stationary section. A slot 53 is formed in the backing plate IQ of the die holder, as shown in Figure and indicated by dotted lines in Figure 6, and by providing gage markings upon the outer face of the main plate of the shiftable die section opposite the openings 52, as shown at 54 in Figure 10, the shiftable section may be moved to an adjusted position in which a predetermined one of the gage markings 54 will be alined with gage markings 55 provided at opposite sides of the slot 53 and when the pin 33 of the latch enters the companion opening 52, the shiftable die section will be secured in the proper position to mark a vamp of a shoe of a certain size. Therefore, the proper position of the shiftable die section may be accurately gaged and this section securely but releasably held in a set position. When either the unitary die or the adjustable die is in use, it is slid into the die holder and firmly secured therein. The stationary section and shiftable section of the adjustable die may be secured in their proper positions without detaching the holder from the carriage II and as the gage markings 54 of the shiftable die can be viewed through the slot or recess 53, the shiftable section may be accurately adjusted. When it is desired to remove the die in use and substitute another, it is merely necessary to move the latch or latches to a releasing position and the unitary or adjustable die in use can be very easily withdrawn from the die holder and another slid into place. This can be easily and quickly performed without loss of time. As the dies are all applied to the same holder, individual holders for the dies are not necessary and it is also not necessary to disconnect the holder from the carriage in order to substitute a die in place of one already in the holder.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A die holder comprising a frame having a backing, retainer strips along sides of the backing, an abutment carried by the backing, a die having a main plate slid into the frame against the backing and bearing against the abutment with its side edge portions overlapped by the retainer strips, a tongue projecting forwardly from the main plate out of the frame, marking means carried by the main plate, and a latch carried by the backing for engaging the main plate of the die and holding the die in the frame.

2. A die holder comprising a frame having a backing and retainers extending along side edge portions of the backing, a block secured upon the upper face of the backing and serving to reinforce the same, means carried by the block for detachably securing the same to a carrier and hold the frame against movement out of a set position, a die slid into the frame against the backing with its side edge portions overlapped by the retainers, and a latch carried by said backing and movable into and out of position to engage the die and secure the die in the frame.

3. A die holder comprising a frame having a backing and retainer strips extending along side edge portions of the underface of the backing, means projecting from the upper face of the backing for securing the frame to a carrier, a die having a main plate slid into the frame against the underface of the backing with its marginal portions overlapped by the retainer strips, an auxiliary plate carried by the main plate, marking means carried by the auxiliary plate, a tongue projecting from the main plate and protruding from the frame whereby the tongue may be grasped when sliding the die into and out of the frame, and a latch secured upon the upper face of the backing and movable into and out of position to engage the main plate and releasably hold the die in the frame.

4. A die holder comprising a frame open at its front and having a backing and retainer strips extending along side edge portions of the underface of the backing, means upon the upper face of the backing for detachably connecting the frame with a carrier, a die including a main plate slid into the main frame through the open front thereof against the underface of the backing with its side edge portions overlapped by the retainer strips, a tongue projecting forwardly from the main plate, the backing having an opening formed therein and the main plate having an opening registering with the opening of the backing when the die is slid into the frame, and a latch consisting of a resilient strip secured against the upper face of the backing, a pin carried by a free portion of the resilient strip, and an actuating element carried by the resilient strip and having a portion projecting therefrom and adapted to be pressed upon to flex the resilient strip away from the backing and move the pin out of position to extend through the openings of the backing and main plate.

5. A die holder comprising a frame having a backing and retainer strips extending along side edge portions of the underface of the backing, a die consisting of companion sections each having a main plate and a marking means carried thereby, the sections of said die being slid into the frame against the underface of the backing with their side edge portions overlapped by the retainer strips, one die section constituting a stationary section and the other an adjustable section, means to releasably secure the stationary section in the frame, and means to releasably secure the adjustable section in a predetermined position in the frame relative to the stationary section.

6. A die holder comprising a frame open at one side, a die formed of sections slid into and out of the frame through the open side thereof, one

section constituting a stationary section and the other a shiftable section for the die, a strip disposed against the upper face of the frame and having pins for passing through registering openings in the frame and stationary die section to hold the said section in a stationary position in the frame, means carried by said frame for engaging said strip and releasably securing the strip in an operative position, said frame having an opening formed therein adjacent its open side and the movable die sections having a series of openings formed therein successively moved into position to register with the opening of the frame when the movable section is slid toward and away from the stationary section, and a latch carried by said frame and including a pin for passing through the opening of the frame and through a selected opening of the shiftable section to releasably secure the movable section in a set position with its inner edge in predetermined spaced relation to the stationary die section.

RUPERT L. GREENLEAF. WILLIAM E. DOUGHER'I'Y. 

